Gail On Tech

Are all iPhone apps created equal?

I guess this post belongs in the ‘I just don’t get it’ basket. Unfortunately, I don’t have such a category on this blog, but I’m still going to ask the question: why do the developers and users of some iPhone apps bother?

Now I don’t want to go all existential on you, but a post I read on a blog last week got me thinking about the dubious value of some technology. The post in question announced a new iPhone app that lets you search the meanings of baby names.

A handy thing, you say? Really? I don’t think so. Who on earth needs to find a baby name on the fly? I mean, as big a responsibility as impending parenthood is, you’ve got nine months to come up with a name for the new offspring, and if you haven’t settled on one by the big day, it’s unlikely that the hospital will repossess the new arrival if you don’t come up with a name on the spot and your only chance of avoiding childlessness is an iPhone app.

I get the need to access information on the run and the need for mobile entertainment, but the existence (and popularity) of some of these apps have me beat.

OK, I’ll confess to a touch of iPhone envy — my husband has just got one for his work phone and I’m well impressed — and I’m the first to acknowledge that a great many of the apps available for the iPhone are both cool and truly useful. However, it beats me why seemingly sane people would fork out good money for some of the other apps on offer and why developers wouldn’t rather be working on more beneficial technology.

Perhaps it’s the commercial lure — all those ‘couple of dollars’ add up (have you looked at some of those download figures!) —and the rosy glow that iPhone owners get from showing off their shiny new apps to fellow Apple devotees.

OK, that feels better. Thanks for listening.

Is anyone else out there perplexed by this and other similar examples of technology for technology’s sake?